Question

I am in the mood for your OS story.

Answer 1

So, here is my OS story: I was teaching Gen Chem at Emory and I really wanted to build a platform where students could help students. And my son opened my eyes when he sought help from his friends - sometimes over me. I knew that I wanted to build a peer help study platform - for the world. Free and open. Many months later, one day on OS, I heard a user tell another that OS had helped them do well in Math - even though he had tried tutors and teachers and everything. And now he was going to be able to do engineering. That was the moment that I felt all my hard work and sacrifices would be worth it. I have never looked back. I feel privileged to meet and get to know so many of you.

Answer 2

Good morning all.

Answer 3

Good Morning ! @Preetha!

Answer 4

I remember that story from your TED talk ^_^
You were giving a nice explanation to your kid about cell division and he was just "Nah, I'll just ask my friends" (haha)
My mom has a PhD in BioChem so I end up doing that to her a lot too xP

Answer 5

Well I had always heard of OS but i never created an account because I am lazy, and then one day I saw one of my friends had an account, so I made one, and then after that, I was really confused and didn't even know the rules, and then i started helping, and over time i became more comfortable with the site and knew how to do stuff, and the rules too, i made new friends, asked questions, and then answered questions, and then now I'm bored

Answer 6

oh yeah forgot to mention that i love you all

Answer 7

I have known some of you for years now. Snuggie, Jigglypuff, Pooja...

Answer 8

i am the newest one here it seems ;-;

Answer 9

For me, I was looking into finding someone to help me out with my Romeo and Juliet project (i needed ideas) and so I was online searching for things and then I saw "OpenStudy" thought I should try it out...and so I did. I was greeted by many users at the time @hartnn, @aravindG :) and so i gradually started using OpenStudy for subjects I struggled in and got help from many great helpers. I've made many new friends ever since. And I will forever be grateful of this site, it's helped me get good grades and has helped me learn more about the online world :)

Answer 10

.Sam is back I see. Hi there. And thanks Puppies.

Answer 11

So many of you have grown more mature during your time here. Moved to high school, college.

Answer 12

Thanks Pooja.

Answer 13

Any other stories?

Answer 14

Here's how I found OpenStudy...

I was in my junior year of high school, taking an AP Calculus AB class. Within the first two weeks of school we were given a test (which I got a 52% on). I had been a A/B student all my life and getting such a grade right off the bad was soul crushing o-o
I decided to put more effort (and I got a 56% on the next test). Improvement, but not enough to get me a passing grade ^_^"
I started googling looking for free tutoring help for Calculus - and so I found OpenStudy.

Since then I have been help and have helped many amazing people, and nothing can ever replace or amount to how much OpenStudy has affected my life <3

Thank you Preetha for OpenStudy :)

Answer 15

Hi Preetha, yes I'm back :) I was busy with the exams a year ago.

Answer 16

Thanks Jigglypuff, you are awesome. You have done so much for OS. One of these days I hope to meet you in person.

Answer 17

I'm still scared of driving on highways, I'll fly to yah sometime ;)

Answer 18

Don't drive on highways. I'll fly there.

Answer 19

And I have know Caleb so long. It is good to have him back. @SnuggieLad

Answer 20

I got started on this because of Atsie's post. It was so heartfelt, and so touching. so blame Atsie.

Answer 21

I am one of the newest here, but yet one of the eldest xD Weird how that works.
I actually stumbled across OpenStudy when I put an algebra question into the Google search engine and the first result that popped up was OpenStudy.
I thought to myself, "What is this?"
I looked around the site for a while and I kept getting this vibe all over the place, like if I looked at a question I'd always get this thing popping up saying "SIGN IN TO BECOME THE FIRST TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION."
I was very hesitant and on top of it didn't feel like keeping track of another password for another site. But then I also decided that maybe I could get some help here as I am always struggling with my studies and how I have the tendency to need other people communicating with me and helping me out on a one on one basis.
I signed up, learned my way around, disobeyed a few rules, got taught the rules, and got a lot of help as well. In turn I found my attitude be able to change as I had the opportunity for once to be helped and be OF help for once in my life.
This site has taught me more than just math and educational things actually. It has taught me how to actually act online as we live in a society that tends to use social media for ranting in unbecoming and obscene ways and in turn it provides us the attitude that you don't have to respect anyone online.
This site has taught me though that you need to be respectful and courteous in real life as well as behind the computer screen.
@Preetha thank you for all you do to keep this site running ^.^ ♥♥♥

Answer 22

XDD Finally! I did something that I can be blamed for for once! :D Its an honor! <3

Answer 23

I was home schooled and was in desperate need of help on a worksheet question. As hard as I tried, I couldn't find it in the course lessons. I searched far and wide for help but to no avail. Finally, I saw a link on google to OpenStudy. My question had been posted and a helper worked through the problem with the user. I joined immediately! Since then, openstudy has helped me on tons of problems, directly or indirectly. I've gotten to work with some great people, learn how to best assist others, and have even found the joy in teaching as well as learning.

I LOVE history, but years ago that would have been a different statement. Joining this site I got the help I needed in history and now a subject I hated has become not only my most loved subject but the one I'm most knowledgeable on.

It's been a pleasure to be able to help in this melting pot of a web site! So many cultures come together here for the common goal of helping users better themselves through knowledge.

Answer 24

Oh Snuggie. You have become a very well known user on the site. I bet you never expected that. You and I have history together. But it is a good one!

Answer 25

my story looks kinda bad now

Answer 26

no OpenStudy story is a bad OpenStudy story ^_^

Answer 27

Puppies, don't be silly. Everyone has a story and no one passes judgement. I have gotten to know you during your time here - you always have a smile or a greeting for me.

Answer 28

I have enjoyed my stay xD

Answer 29

My story is really short and basic.
I came here to help and end up giving help XD

Answer 30

Initially,I stumbled across the site trying to get help for my math question and with the great help of great people (@abhisar,@ganeshie8 ,@hartnn,@mayankdevnani ,@imqwerty,j@Jadeishere to name a few).
At the time I joined the site I had FAILED my math now and now,two year after joining the site I got a 90% on my math final.
During that time spam I learned a lot ,learned that it not just about mugging up the concepts or things like that.It was about teaching,learning and understanding.
I had tried to hire private teacher,go to classes but all fell in vain but then OpenStudy helped me a lot.It did what the above mentioned failed to.This site helped me to be what I am today.
As I NOT HAVE words to describe my sincere gratitude to this,I would just conclude by saying that this site really helped me through a lot of things.

Thanks @Preetha for creating such an amazing,wonderful ,OpenStudy.

Answer 31

Wellllllll it all started off when I was struggling in Math and English... I was online schooled and I had been getting B's, C's, and 1 A. I googled a BUNCH of websites and there were some times when algebra.com would come up and OpenStudy. I was thinking of making an account but I wasn't exactly "fully" into it. I went to the library to get some books and saw a person on a computer on OpenStudy. I asked him, "Does that website really help you with your studies?" He said, "YES! You should try it!"

I went home and tried it out, asked a couple questions and surprisingly got helped! I kept asking and asking, then I had finished that school year and started helping people (giving direct answers haha). After that, I believe it was Pooja, TSO, or Con that told me not to give DA's and the pros and cons of OpenStudy. Because as usual, I didn't read the CoC/TaC when I checked the box to make an account. :P
Sooooo ever since then, my best subjects were Math and English. I HATED History! Now I am beginning to love History because when I help some people, I see that History is actually pretty fun, entertaining, knowledgeable, and interesting if you read your books.
OpenStudy has helped me with school, got me into subjects I never knew I'd like, and got me all A's on my report cards ever since. Maybe a couple B's but never C's. :)
Thank you so much, Preetha!! :) It was because of your kindness and diligence that you wanted to make something that would be fun, friendly, and helpful to the community. And now you did. :)

Answer 32

I was taking an online class and my teacher did her welcome call and said that OpenStudy was a site that should be avoided because they just give answers. But of course being the delinquent person I am went and checked out the site and was like, "hmm, alright I'll make an account." At first I didn't think I would actually use it, but when I was filling out a worksheet I couldn't find three of the answers anywhere so I went to OpenStudy and asked and got an explanation of how I could find the answer and so ever since then if I can't find the answer to my worksheet note thinks, I come here because I get the help I need. Plus I like to help people and I could do that on here too.

While I was first on here, I didn't know exactly what not to do and stuff. So I had posted in this topic about not really understanding what was supposed to be done, and I got help from @Abhisar and many other people, that later became people that I could talk to.

Thank you for making this awesome site @Preetha!!!!!

Answer 33

Thanks Aaron. I wish you all the best in the future and hope that this diligence and dedication you have demonstrated will take you to the success you are looking for.

Answer 34

@Keigh2015 Haha. Of course when someone tells you don't do something, you have to check it out for yourself! Glad it worked out.

Answer 35

@jabez177 Thank you. History is quite tough isn't it. I have always enjoyed history. I used to be very good at remembering important dates. I am really happy to hear that you like subjects that you didn't use to like. To me, as an educator, that is important. Good luck in your studies, and I hope you get to where you want to go!

Answer 36

I have to leave in a few minutes. I am glad I got to spend this hour with you all. And add your stories here. I'll come back and respond in a bit.

Answer 37

@Preetha, I know I'm one of the rarely known users around on OpenStudy and I haven't had much contact with you Preetha, but I just wanted to state my story real quick.
I like many others, had put a math question into the search engine and an OpenStudy link came up. I saw that I had found what I was looking for and that the site was constantly coming up as quite a popular community for studying in and interacting with others as well.
I just wanted to say also that I am immensely grateful to you Preetha for having the thoughtful regard to those like me striving to learn and help to start a site so revolving around that kind of thing. Thank you for all you do around here and I hope you'll remember me as -
~The only Bunnie of OS

Answer 38

Thank you Bunnie!

Answer 39

Chemistry *_*
Yep, it was ORGANIC chemistry mostly that got me stuck when I was doing my AS levels. My teacher was good, but I couldn't understand his way of explanation all too well and I'm not the type to read a lot of theory. So it just so happened that my friend sorta found this website and specifically one user caught her attention, it was @Kainui, so since I had no other way, I decided to come and check it out. I still remember how happy me and my friend got when we actually got a clear explanation and understood it. I mean probably a lot of you understand, while studying if you get stuck, you cannot move on until you come to understand it, so it was a pain. And here we got the help, actually chemistry aside, I hated physics, and I came to slightly like it after getting help from here again. I should say I was really happy to find this website, and thankful that you, @Preetha actually did make your aim/goal come true and we indeed connect with each other and made studying easier and more fun :D
Now I hope we can help you continue to make this website better and get more people to come here and study with us :3

Answer 40

Hello everyone :)
Glad to see so many of us gathered here.

i am interested in technology and i believe that it saves a lot of unnecessary waste and makes life Easy.
So after my 10th standard (I'm from India) when i was on vacation i thought of learning new skills online and So i started to search for online study site. So when i googled for online study site, i found openstudy, open2study and much more. So i gave it a try and looked for subjects like Computer Science, Physics, Biology etc and it was all there. I saw the moderating system and the way how people help others instead of JUST giving out answers.
Yup, Thats how i got to know Openstudy and now Im a member too ;)
This site focuses on LEARNING rather than just STUDYING.
Thank you so much Madam.
I would like to thank you for this wonderful platform which helps people from different parts of the world to learn and make the information interesting and to build up the spirit of true joy.
Thank you!!!

Answer 41

Hi rvc! Thanks for your story. And Somy too. I wanted our platform to reach the far corners of the world and build a sort of global community - friends helping friends. And thanks to users like yourself, it has.
Thank you.

Answer 42

My pleasure Madam.
You are truly great.

Answer 43

My Story is simple and sweet :) .
My Classmate `MATHSLOVER` aka KUSH once told me to join OPENSTUDY .
Now,this virtual world become a REAL WORLD for me .
I have many friends here .
Well sorry i haven't any words to describe OS .
I would like to thank PREETHA MA'AM for creating this beautiful site :)

Thank you .

Answer 44

Hey, Preetha
I have never really needed any help with my schoolwork, but when a Civcs course rolled around I had some problems. I asked my first question here, January 30th, 2014. I got help really fast, and I loved what I saw. I left for a little while after that, but I realized that I can help myself and others with school. I helped with math over that summer, so I can keep my mind active and to help others in need of it. Later on I became more attached to the site, and then I was dared to become an Ambassador. I wasn't encouraged at the time to be one, but I am glad that one friend of mine who did that because now I am doing what I like - helping others.

Answer 45

Ha okay, so actually mine isn't all that great but whatever.

I just started oline schooling, and I completely slacked off. (aka. I was being lazy and scrolled facebook instead).
My biggest problem was the simple faact that I am definitely a visual learner. My school teachers mostly blew me off telling me to look at the power point slides again so I started just looking up the answers, and half-___ing the actual work. One day, I looked up a government question and VIOLA! OpenStudy popped up. As I looked up most of my stuff, I had seen OS a lot but never really thought of it, this time however, I was beig lazy and wanted to take a break, so I chose to make an account, expecting it to be SUUUPER lame. Any way, Im almost 100% done with gov, and the same goes with math.

Its also really nice because I can help people too, and when I'm confused on a question, I don't feel quite so stupid because I helped someone else. XD

Thank you Preetha <3 BTW, I met you at the B-day Bash. You're suuper nice.

Answer 46

P.S. But now I love it, and its amazing.

Answer 47

Hmmmm my story is very... let's say... nothing to be proud of. smh rebecca. But it turned into something better than i could ever imagine. So thank you Preetha ^-^

Answer 48

I've been on Open Study under countless other names from the very beginning when it was new, My brother was the one who introduced it to me. But recently I think it was when I started my 11th year of school, which was in September, 2015 I made one account (Ms-Brains) and stuck to it. I made my Open Study account because I was failing math. But with all the amazing help from every here I am passing all my courses, and I am on the Dean's Honor list. Thank you @Preetha for making such a wonderful site! <3

Answer 49

Like many others, I too needed help on my math. Honestly, I was struggling in Algebra 2 (I know right, pretty bad XD haha I thought that was bad, but then I got the chance to experience precalculus this year ;) ) last year, and searched around for help and landed on this site. I decided to check it out since I saw how people were actually explaining the material rather than just giving the answer. I'm not a fan of how some people still give direct answers, or they include the answer in their response (even with the instructions). I prefer to work things out on my own, which I have been able to do many a time here. I really appreciate you making such a dependable site @Preetha. I, and many others I assume, greatly appreciate it.

Answer 50

Here is mine:
more than one year ago, I was searching for a place wherein to speak about mathematics and physics. So I joined an italian study group of mathematics, nevertheless, nobody there followed the rules, namely the most part of users gave the answers directly, without explanations, and some one of them were rude. So, I realized that such study group wasn't the right place for me. Then I restarted to search for another study group, I was searching for a not too challenging activity, and it was so that I joined OpenStudy.
During this year of my activity in OpenStudy many good things are occurred:

first of all, I met many good people who have appreciated my work, and that is very important;
I found a beautiful informal environment, wherein it is possible to exchange ideas about mathematics, physics, and the other sciences;
I got a recommendation letter, which I consider like an important acknowledgment.
So, I'd like to thank to Mrs. @Preetha for OpenStudy, and all people who, day by day, appreciate my tutoring activity.

Answer 51

Like most others, I was having some trouble on a math assignment. I put the question into google, and OpenStudy pops up with a few links. After looking at every link, I still didn't understand, so I made an account and posted it myself. Within a few minutes, @jigglypuff314 came over and helped. The rest is history :)

Answer 52

just googled "online volunteering opportunities" because I was at my college during the summer and there weren't any active clubs or anything lol

Answer 53

Originally, I was introduced to this site by a student I was assisting in the grade under at the time. (I was 11th, he was 10th) He was on Algebra 1/2 at the time, and i was like hmm, neat site... Later that evening I was working on some work that was due the next morning, and figured that I could try this site out, and little did i know that I'd get instant assistance, not just answers, but assistance. @pooja195 , and many others i can't think of right now, You helped me get through calculus that year, don't think i coulda made it without y'all helping me thru my path!
~Also Started helping out around the site as well since it was such a nice community! Been gone awhile, and i aint high score wise as most of you, but figured it'd contribute to the story.

Answer 54

@yoloshroom key word there is assistance. most other sites you can't get that and if you do you'd have to pay by the hour.

Answer 55

Nice story Preetha i really thank you a lot because at first a had trouble in math and my friend told me to go to OpenStudy it would help me with my math and it did thanks to you and all the OS users i really appreciate all of the OS users and you Preetha because if it wasn't for you Preetha for making this site and all of the users that help me i would be no where with out you guy. <3

Answer 56

I was taking an online Algebra 2 course to get ahead in my math for high school. As I searched up questions to find the answers, since I already knew how to work them out and I just wanted to get the subject over with, I stumbled across OpenStudy. Most of the questions I asked were already on OpenStudy with great answers. But then came this one question I didn't understand. And it wasn't asked on OpenStudy. So I made an account to ask it. I didn't really care for the process, I just wanted the answer, and so I asked the two helpers who jumped to my post for the answer. Luckily, I didn't get banned but they helped me. I figured it out on my own since they never did give me an answer, haha. I later got addicted to OpenStudy because of the smartscore and the easy math questions to answer. I give plenty of DA's before I got two warnings in a row, and then I changed my ways. I made a lot of friends on OpenStudy that I believe it would be hard to quit OpenStudy.

Answer 57

And medals for everyone!

Cheers!

Answer 58

It all started with FRENCH 1 O_O. It was a rainy day and i had a question that needed attention. A question that requires a lot of research. I searched and search for days and couldn't find any help. I asked my questions on the mighty search engine and a bright light appeared around the word 'OpenStudy" out of curiosity i opened it and after that one click, my life changed forever.... A's on papers, passing classes and maturing in leadership :D Openstudy has done a lot for me and kept me motivated to stay in school and help others. Thanks OpenStudy


P.S I love this site ^_^

Answer 59

Here's mine: The struggle is real.
Life got hectic and parents were off to homeschool me. The most known homeschool most of the users on here are familiar with. Struggling in having to learn on my own was very difficult. I just blew up one day and couldn't understand concepts of math algebra on my own. There I decided just like everyone else, google the question, be a smarty and just get the answer. Just an answer wasn't enough. @ganeshie8 knows me pretty well. My math problems and I just kept coming back to this site after several times of explanations and help. Loved this site with all my heart. Moved onto college and now have been in college since I was 15. Still back at it again with the college knowledge. I've become someone I didn't expect. I never expected to be an Ambassador. To meet all the Russians and others and have fun. It were times that have kept me going. Especially LaTeX life. Remembering that, I'm most likely positive I've made more friends by greeting new users with artsy fartsy stuff first and then helping out the user. I still come back to this site when it comes to school and college life. Not that great. But GOIN TO COLLEGE, GETTIN THE KNOWLEDGE is what I'm doing:)

P.S. It's past bedtime. Getting up at 6am coming home at 5pm from college.-the struggle- Sigh/// BUT it's worth it.

Answer 60

can u help me with french @jagr2713

Answer 61

Ehh i can try :D

Answer 62

ok i didn't pay attention for the entire year @jagr2713

Answer 63

I can really go into detail about my life and OpenStudy but it'll get boring lol

Answer 64

\(\color{#0cbb34}{\text{Originally Posted by}}\) @ILovePuppiesLol
ok i didn't pay attention for the entire year @jagr2713
\(\color{#0cbb34}{\text{End of Quote}}\)
I didn't pay attention to my Spanish for an entire year :p

Answer 65

I found OS through the link that's on the MIT ocw website and ended up meeting the smartest and most imaginative people I know. The OS community has shown me what true knowledge, understanding and insight feels like. People here inspire the confidence that anybody can learn anything. I have set myself higher goals and have grown a great deal ever since.

I greatly appreciate openstudies contribution to the global effort of open sharing of knowledge and providing a free world class education to anyone that seeks it. It's a privilege to be a part of it.

Thank you OS and everyone on it! :)

Answer 66

hi. @Preetha - and ty. for created this site with name OS. so i begined my story with OS. more than 4 years ago - when i was interested so much ,,one formula" to generalise primes and so in this way i arrived here on OS. and begined helping peopels in different math questions - and this is true that i was surprized to much that in the next yera will be 30 years than i gradueated and i remember again so good,right the math formulas and other to much necessary things to solve different math exercices - ty. Preetha and hope so much that in the future i will be capable returning here daily heping peopels,students -
- have a nice day - sincerelly jhonyy9

Answer 67

One fine afternoon (August 6, 2012 around 2:30pm), i was trying to solve an integral for my project.
The lazy part of me had this idea of posting the question in an online forum and get it solved by someone :P
I posted my questions in several forums found in Google search, and OpenStudy was the one which helped me the fastest (within few minutes!), thanks to @UnkleRhaukus.
After doing the integral, i looked for questions in which i could help, there were many :)
Once I started it, didn't stop yet! :D